Ukulele group in fine tune

Geoff Lilley with one of his eukeles.

A NEWLY-FORMED ukulele group has got off to a strumming-good start with its first session seeing 10 players turning out.

Councillor Geoff Lilley, who has been playing the small guitar for around two-and-a-half years, appealed in the Mail for fellow music lovers to come forward and set up a ukulele group.

And at the first meeting on Sunday, the 62-year-old was delighted to welcome 10 members – with an eleventh apologising for not being able to attend on that occasion.

Geoff, leader of town political group Putting Hartlepool First, said: “We had a really good turn-out and I was surprised that so many people turned up.

“It’s a really good start and after 10 minutes we were all playing with gusto and having good fun.

“Even the members who were beginners knew the basic chords and we sounded pretty good.”

Geoff, a dad, step-dad and granddad, said that by late spring, when hopefully they have all mastered a few good tunes, then they would all like to partake in charity events, and even play at nursing homes, or for anyone who would like to listen.

He said: “Once we’ve got a bit polished and have a few songs under our belt then we want to make an impact in Hartlepool.

“We’d also really like to thank the Mail for publishing the initial story about setting the group up. If it wasn’t for the Mail it wouldn’t have happened.”

The ukulele group, which has yet to have its name confirmed, meets every Sunday morning, from 10.30am to 12.30pm, at St Matthew’s Hall, in Elwick Road, Hartlepool, and costs £2, which includes tea, coffee and biscuits.